Boundary determines odd-dimensional middle-index handlebodies

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Let XX and X′X' be (2k+1)(2k+1)-dimensional kk-handlebodies. Their boundaries are denoted by ∂X\partial X and ∂X′\partial X'.

Boundary-determination conjecture. If ∂X\partial X and ∂X′\partial X' are diffeomorphic, then XX and X′X' are diffeomorphic.

If true, this would imply Lawson's theorem that every closed 55-manifold can be constructed as a twisted double of a 55-dimensional 22-handlebody. The source provides no resolution of the conjecture.

References

Primary source

Geunyoung Kim, “Heegaard diagrams for 5-manifolds”, arXiv:2505.06887 (2025).

Additional references

2 papers in this index state this conjecture (2025). The statement above is taken from the most recent of them; the others are arXiv:2502.11314.

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